Beagle

About Beagles

While Beagles are known to be very peaceful and very loving dogs, this breed is also quite active and playful. Once a famous hunting hound due to its keen sense of smell, the Beagle dog is now used as both a service dog, and as a pet.

There are three types of Beagles when it comes to color: a lemon Beagle, a white Beagle, or a tricolor Beagle. This breed has long, soft ears and brown eyes are the prominent defining attributes of this friendly dog.

This dog breed is known to be very companionate and loving, making them the perfect companion dog for owners that have families and children.

They might be picky eaters sometimes, but if you make sure to feed them with good food and exercise them daily the will be very healthy and can live more than fifteen years.

Nutrition

A highly active sense of smell means that a Beagle can smell any food that you will bring them from outside of the house even. As they were used as hunting dogs, they are used to running and thus demand a lot of protein in their diet. A healthy Beagle should eat about one thousand calories each day, mostly consisting of protein and fat, as well as some bone meal to help their own bones develop.

Similar to some larger breeds, a Beagle will usually eat everything that is in their bowl and will always demand for you to give them whatever you are eating. This might lead to obesity, which is a massive problem for an active dog that is used to running around.

A right balance of nutrients is also important, with some fiber needed if you are feeding the dog dry food such as kibble. The best possible diet is to alternate between canned food, dry food, and raw food, adding some meaty bones sometimes as well as vitamin and mineral supplements when needed.

For a Beagle puppy, it is best to start with small kibble and then progress to other foods as they grow older. This will not only ensure the proper development of the dog but will also restrict the number of familiar protein sources recognized by the dog, preventing allergies.

Grooming

Grooming a Beagle is much easier than grooming other breeds. As hair shedding is seasonal in this breed, you can consult a professional dog groomer to find some easy tips for grooming it. Beagles have a dense, smooth coat that becomes heavier during winters.

Weekly brushing with good quality metal brushes is a way to remove unwanted shedding hair. Plus, a beagle requires occasional bathing, unless it gets into something messy.

Exercise

There is no denying that proper training extends your Beagle’s life expectancy. You do not need to put efforts to get them engaged in different challenges as Beagle is naturally energetic and active. A Beagle needs at least half hour of purposeful activity every day.

Moreover, leaving Beagle unattended for an extended period can be destructive. It is an escape artist and can be easily distracted. With a powerful hunting instinct, Beagle finds it difficult to resist an urge to escape. Walking, jumping and recommended cardio exercises are some excellent ideas to keep your pet busy.

Training

Beagle training is quite straightforward, and they can learn a lot of commands. Beagle puppies should start their basic obedience training as soon as you bring them home, using a lot of positive reinforcement such as treats, verbal encouragement, and petting. Having the dog respond to commands when it is a pup will make it much easier to train an older dog some further specialization.

Beagle owners should know that specialized training is still quite tricky and time-consuming and that for this they will probably need assistance from an expert. Once trained, Beagles can quickly become good service dogs or even rescue dogs.

Those who wish for their dog to become an emotional support animal should start Beagle puppy training early and expose the young dog to environments where there is a lot of people, as they can acclimate early to their future surroundings.

Health

Health can be one of your concerns when it comes to keeping a Beagle as a pet, as Beagles are prone to the health problems like hypothyroidism, luxating patella, hip dysplasia, epilepsy, as well as several eye disorders.

Like all other breeds, cleaning and checking a Beagle’s ears on a weekly basis is essential as the long ears may develop bacteria due to their shape. Plus, make sure that you brush your pet’s teeth regularly to keep oral issues at bay.

Beagle’s ears are one of the most common places of infection, and you should check them regularly to see if there is any discoloration or strange smell which can indicate ear infections. Additionally, adult beagles can develop digestive problems due to discretionary eating, and you should let your vet check the dog anal glands to see if there is any evidence of parasites.

Bottom Line

These cheerful little scent hounds are a perfect choice for dog lovers who either have a family or are in need of an emotional support animal. Beagles are playful, kind, and loving and training Beagles early with obedience training and basic commands will ensure that they are a reliable partner when they become adult dogs.

While a Beagle can have some health issues, if you listen to your vet, provide proper nutrition and plenty of exercises, all of your pets and belly rubs will be rewarded with undying love for years to come.

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